[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 11 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Pages 338-339]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13038--Advisory Committee on the Public Interest 
Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters

March 11, 1997

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (the ``Act''), and in order to 
establish an advisory committee on the public interest obligations of 
digital television broadcasters, it is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Establishment. There is established the ``Advisory 
Committee on the Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television 
Broadcasters'' (``Committee''). The Committee shall consist of not more 
than 15 members appointed by the President. Members shall be chosen from 
the private sector, including members of the commercial and 
noncommercial broadcasting industry, computer industries, producers, 
academic institutions, public interest organizations, and the 
advertising community. The President shall designate a Chair from among 
the members of the Committee.
    Sec. 2. Functions. On or before June 1, 1998, the Committee shall 
report to the Vice President on the public interest obligations digital 
television broadcasters should assume. For the purpose of carrying out 
its functions the Committee may, in consultation with the Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, hold meetings 
at such times and places as the Committee may find advisable.
    Sec. 3. Administration. (a) To the extent permitted by law, the 
heads of executive departments, agencies, and independent 
instrumentalities shall provide the Committee, upon request, with such 
information as it may require for the purpose of carrying out its 
functions.
    (b) Upon request of the Chair of the Committee, the head of any 
executive department, agency, or instrumentality shall, to the extent 
permitted by law and subject to the discretion of such head, (1) make 
any of the facilities and services of such department, agency, or 
instrumentality available to the Committee; and (2) detail any of the 
personnel of such department, agency, or instrumentality to the 
Committee to assist the Committee in carrying out its duties.
    (c) Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation for 
their work on the Committee. While engaged in the work of the Committee, 
members appointed from the private sector may be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
law and as the Chair, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Communications and In

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formation, may allow as needed, for persons serving intermittently in 
the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707), to the extent funds are 
available for such purposes.
    (d) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Department of Commerce shall provide the 
Committee with administrative services, staff, and other support 
services necessary for performance of the Committee's functions.
    (e) The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information, or his designee, shall perform the functions of the 
President under the Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, in 
accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the 
Administrator of General Services.
    Sec. 4. General. The Committee shall terminate 30 days after 
submitting its report, unless extended by the President.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
March 11, 1997

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., March 12, 
1997]

Note: This Executive order was published in the Federal Register on 
March 13.